Friday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Fresno | Won, 3-0 | vs. Tacoma, 10:05 p.m. | Hoover (3-1, 7.46) vs. Nolin (2-0, 3.20) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 13-0 | @ Bowie, 7:05 p.m. | Fuentes (3-3, 1.80) vs. Lowther (8-5. 2.46) |
| Potomac | Postponed | vs. Wilmington, 5:00 p.m. | Teel (3-1, 3.40) and Reyes (1-4, 5.59) vs. Bowlan (2-0, 0.75) and Cox (0-1, 4.76) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 3-2 | @ Delmarva, 7:05 p.m. | Irvin (4-5, 4.73) vs Vespi (4-4, 3.57) |
| Auburn | Lost, 3-2 | vs. Batavia, 7:00 p.m. | P. Gonzalez (0-3, 29.25) vs. Bennett (0-1, 8.49) |
| GCL Nationals | Won, 10-6; Won, 9-8 (9 inn.) |
@/vs. GCL Astros, 10:00 a.m. |
Fresno 3 Tacoma 0
• McGowin (W, 7-2) 7IP, 5H, 0R, BB, 7K
• Blazek (H, 5) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Self (SV, 7) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Difo 2-4, R, 3B, RBI
• Noll 2-4
Three Grizzlies pitchers combined to shut out the Rainiers, 3-0 on five hits. Kyle McGowin went the first seven and gave up all five hits and a walk while setting down seven on strikes. Michael was perfect in the 8th for his fifth hold and a whiff as was Derek Self in the 9th for his seventh save. Wilmer Difo and Jake Noll both went 2-for-4 with Difo scoring a run and driving in a run to lead the Fresno offense.
Bowie 13 Harrisburg 0
• Mapes (L, 3-5) 2⅔ IP, 8H, 10R, 8ER, 5BB, 0K, 3HR, HBP
• A. Lee 4IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, 2-0 IR-S
• Garcia 2-4, 2K, E(11)
• Bichette 2-4
Tyler Mapes’s struggles continue as Bowie knifed him for ten runs in less than three innings in a 13-0 demolition of Harrisburg. The 27-y.o. veteran gave up three homers and eight hits total while issuing five walks and matching the number of strikeouts most of you reading this had last night. Andrew Lee was stellar in his AA debut as he retired all 12 batters he faced and struck out four while stranding two runners. Luis Garcia and Dante Bichette Jr. both went 2-for-4 while the rest of the lineup went 2-for-24.
Roster move: UT Adrián Sanchez recalled to Washington.
Potomac vs. Wilmington – PPD
The P-Nats were rained out by a deluge that began about 90 minutes before first pitch but 90 minutes after they began collecting parking fees. They’ll shoot for two tonight at 5:00 p.m.
Roster moves: IF Gilbert Lara promoted from Hagerstown; 3B Anderson Franco placed on the 7-day I.L.
Delmarva 3 Hagerstown 2
• Schaller (L, 0-1) 2IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 5BB, 3K, WP
• Howell 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Cluff 2-4, BB
• Mendoza 1-3, BB, RBI
The gap between Reid Schaller’s pedigree and his performance remains a chasm as the Vanderbilt product was dinged for all three Delmarva runs on two hits and five (5) walks over two innings to lose his first contest of 2019, 3-2. Jacob Howell was perfect for three and Ryan Tapani added three goose eggs as well to give the Hagerstown offense a chance to catch up. With just one hit in 11 RISP opportunities, the Suns got just two back and managed only five hits, led by Jackson Cluff with two.
Roster moves: LHP Alex Troop, 2B Phil Caulfield promoted from Auburn; RHP Chris Vann placed on the 7-day I.L.
Batavia 3 Auburn 2
• N. Gomez 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 4K, HR
• Moore (L, 0-1) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 0K
• Arruda 3-4, R
• Randa 2-3
The Muckdogs somehow went 0-for-14 with RISP and still won this one, 3-2. Niomar Gomez got the start and turned in five innings of two-run ball on five hits (one solo HR) and a walk while striking out four. The loss went to Davis Moore, who let in a run on a it and two walks over an inning and a 1/3rd. Hunter McMahon and Jordan each got four out without a score to keep things close but got just one more runner into scoring position (Jose Sanchez – single, WP) over the last four innings. J.T. Arruda led the Doubledays hit column with a 3-for-4 night, followed by Jake Randa, who went 2-for-3.
GCL Nationals 10 GCL Cardinals 6 – GAME ONE
• Rutledge 1+ IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 2K, 2WP
• Ribalta (W, 1-0) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K, BK, 3-2 IR-S
• Martina 3-4, R, 2B, CS
• Arias 2-4, 2R, BB, HR, RBI
• B. Fernandez 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
GCL Nationals 9 GCL Cardinals 8 (9 inn.) – GAME TWO
• Amoroso 2⅔ IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 3K
• Russo (W, 1-0) 1IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, BB, K; 2-4, R, 2B, 4RBI
• Turbi 2-3, R, 2B, RBI
• Quinn 2-4, R
• De La Rosa 2-4, BB
Roster moves: RHPs Justin Miller, Kyle Barraclough assigned from Washington for MLB Rehab; RHP Adrian Martinez, LHP Jairon Peguero reassigned from Auburn.
Some overdue and deserving promotions have finally been made.
Looking like Mapes’ ceiling is High A. Even with that sour note we have a great AA debut from Andrew Lee.
Yes, bravo to Andrew Lee. It’s hard to beat posting a perfect four innings in your debut at a new level.
Good to see a strong outing from McGowin. It will be really interesting to see what the pecking order is the next time the big club needs a starter.
I was concerned that the Nats didn’t think Rutledge was ready to start at Auburn, and I’m even more concerned after a pedestrian performance against lower-tier draftees. That gives us three 1st-round picks in a row who won’t be anywhere near the majors for years to come.
The 3d rounders in ’17 (Raquet) and ’18 (Schaller) aren’t looking so great, either.
Good to see Troop promoted. Not good to see Mapes looking like he may be close to the end of the line. He’s been such a great story to make it as far as he has as a 30th-round pick.
Yes, if you follow this site, it’s in our DNA to root for 30th rounders like Mapes.
Pedestrian for Rutledge would be an upgrade. He got crushed.
Rutledge and Peterson
Auburn rostered
Rehabs with Collier and Masters there
Sundberg continues in GCL where Ferrar proceeded Seijas vs Astros today. …Cane…
Luke. A healthy Lou Collier plays @ Burg to begin then Fresno once
Brass deems Banks AA ready ?
In very SSS, the two field draftees the Nats pushed to Hags are off to good starts at the plate: Mendoza at .400 and Cluff at .300. Considering how thin the organization is with field prospects beyond Kieboom and Garcia, it will be very good if they’ve found a couple who can click.
The movement of almost all of our other infielders has to mean Freeman is finally getting a promotion, right? Right?!
I don’t really understand the Lara promotion. He’s been struggling mightily ever since April ended and is sporting a .298 OBP…
Also, what’s with A. Martinez and J. Peguero getting demotions? They more than held their own in Auburn with 1.50 and 0.00 ERAs in limited time…
Finally, any word on Jose Ferrer, our electric Dominican arm who struck out 53 in 30IP last season? He’s probably the IFA prospect I’m most excited about in the GCL this season.
Maybe player movement between Hagerstown and Auburn is just to meet roster needs or work with a specific coach, rather than promotions or demotions.
I mean Hagerstown/Auburn/GCL
Agreed
Let’s see what Pena can do after the Alastre recent outing .
Let’s see how Anderson plays the weekly infield rotation with Lara promoted.
Funny how a 3 or 7 day IL sometimes is just a benching breather to look @ someone else
Abreau truly an org guy now playing 3 b tonight next to Lara @ SS.
Freeman in CF more
Nowhere for Rutledge to go but up. I’m not going to overreact to one wobbly debut outing.
Nice to see Troop promoted. And nice to see Lee impress after his promotion. I’m reserving judgment on the other moves.
Anyone coming up to give the Nats’ tired bullpen an extra arm with Voth set to go today?
That’s why they call it the farm. Plant seeds see which take and grow. Draft / scout /sign
Every year 30 plus arms for four affiliates post June . Then see how many grow immensely.